Now after four sequels and spin-off film, it's forgotten what a good horror Paranormal Activity from 2009 was. Originally supposed to come out in 2007 and eventually sat on the shelf for two years later, it had a Blair Witch vibe with such a memorable ending. A positive addition to the found footage genre. Once the sequels started, they had weak story- line and a cash grab vibe to them. Even though it's not without it's problems, the fourth one and it's spin-off film both stood out with originality with the fourth one having a high school vibe and the spin off exploring a rough Oxnard, California culture. Now said to be the last one, the Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension is a mess that somehow and someway still makes it's way to the finish line and is a positive film.
For some reason set in Christmas time 2013, the Fleege family move into a new house where they discover spooky tapes that uncovers a dark past and a demon starts to terrorize the family. So much of the plot goes back to Part Three. We found tapes in that one and young's girl are in that story as well. Every ending to these films have really ended the same and the same could be said about any found footage film ending for the matter. That found footage shooting style with these movies will never change and really except those long drawn out scenes it really added to the tension. The poster of this movie brings you back to the original Poltergeist though the plot line is not really explained. Through every act you keep asking "Why" and "Why this family and what is the connection to the main idea?".
In the middle of this rehash though are some high points. These are not exactly great characters and there is not a lot to them but the acting could be much worse. There are really not a lot of big jump scares either. You do get some good humor at times which is the most original thing in this one and something new to the series after all these years. The paranormal visuals look great and that surely goes back to editing. Even if lacking a 80's vibe to them, even the tapes in this stand out much more than Part Three tapes.
If this is truly the end, the Paranormal Activity movies should have never got this far. It always should have been a stand-alone film and it's plot didn't really need to go further. The screening I was at had so many phones out with a lot teenagers running around. This surely wasn't the original audience for Paranormal Activity at the start of the series. Even though I found Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension above average, it is best for this series to end.
For some reason set in Christmas time 2013, the Fleege family move into a new house where they discover spooky tapes that uncovers a dark past and a demon starts to terrorize the family. So much of the plot goes back to Part Three. We found tapes in that one and young's girl are in that story as well. Every ending to these films have really ended the same and the same could be said about any found footage film ending for the matter. That found footage shooting style with these movies will never change and really except those long drawn out scenes it really added to the tension. The poster of this movie brings you back to the original Poltergeist though the plot line is not really explained. Through every act you keep asking "Why" and "Why this family and what is the connection to the main idea?".
In the middle of this rehash though are some high points. These are not exactly great characters and there is not a lot to them but the acting could be much worse. There are really not a lot of big jump scares either. You do get some good humor at times which is the most original thing in this one and something new to the series after all these years. The paranormal visuals look great and that surely goes back to editing. Even if lacking a 80's vibe to them, even the tapes in this stand out much more than Part Three tapes.
If this is truly the end, the Paranormal Activity movies should have never got this far. It always should have been a stand-alone film and it's plot didn't really need to go further. The screening I was at had so many phones out with a lot teenagers running around. This surely wasn't the original audience for Paranormal Activity at the start of the series. Even though I found Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension above average, it is best for this series to end.